These are the 7 most affordable places in the UK to buy a house

If you’re one of the lucky members of Generation Rent, your thoughts on one day owning your own home may well have transitioned from “yeah, seems doable” to “absurd pipe dream”. In 2016, thanks to an uber-helpful combination of sky-rocketing property prices and stagnating salaries (the average UK house now costs eight times the average national wage, fact fans), it’s harder than ever to get on the property ladder.

But believe it or not, there are still some places in the UK where buying a house isn’t as ludicrous a prospect as skateboarding to the moon. New research carried out by online money-saving agent eMoov has revealed the regions in England, Scotland and Wales where you can buy a house for as little as three times the average salary.

So start planning your big move now…

1. Copeland, Cumbria, England

Wastwater Lake in Copeland, Cumbria. Image: iStock

Average house price: £114,000

Average annual wage: £37,000

House price to wage ratio: 3

The district of Copeland, in the far north-west of England, has been dubbed “the last affordable part of Britain”. Situated on the coast to the west of the Lake District, the area’s relatively high wages are thanks in part to the presence of two major manufacturers, British Aerospace Engineering and GlaxoSmithKline.

You can find stunning scenery here, including Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain, and Wastwater, its deepest lake. Also worth a mention are the pretty Georgian harbour town of Whitehaven and the world-famous crab fair in nearby Ergremont.

2. Blaenau Gwent, Wales

The town of Ebbw Vale in Blaenau Gwent. Image: Getty

Average house price: £80,000

Average annual wage: £20,000

House price to wage ratio: 4

Blaenau Gwent is the only Welsh borough to make the affordable list. Although it borders the breathtaking Brecon Beacons National Park and a house here will cost you peanuts compared to the £1.2 million average price of a property in Kensington, London, the region was badly hit by the recession, and jobs are reportedly hard to come by.

3. Burnley, Lancashire

The view over Burnley town. Image: iStock

Average house price: £75,000

Average annual wage: £19,000

House price to wage ratio: 4

The Lancashire town of Burnley was recently crowned the friendliest place in England, based on factors including neighbourly relationships and the strength of family bonds. It’s also host to a rich variety of museums, churches and art galleries and surrounded by beautiful countryside – and if you’re desperate for a fix of urban life, Manchester is less than an hour away by train.

4. North Lanarkshire, Scotland

Like Blaenau Gwent, the word “affordable” carries baggage in North Lanarkshire, since many communities in the area are stuck in poverty. But there’s beautiful Scottish scenery to be found at Drumpellier and Strathclyde Country Parks, and the average house price remains under the £100k mark.

5. County Durham, England

Durham Castle. Image: iStock

Average house price: £97,000

Average annual wage: £21,000

House price to wage ratio: 5

Perhaps a bit of a surprise entry, here: many of us associate County Durham first and foremost with the well-heeled city of Durham and its university, which is renowned for its distinctly posh student body. But the north-east is already the most affordable region in the UK to rent a home, and housing plans in the region are helping keep house prices down.

6. East Ayrshire, Scotland

Natural scenery in East Ayshire. Image: iStock

Average house price: £92,000

Average annual wage: £20,000

House price to wage ratio: 5

East Ayshire is found in western Scotland, just south of Glasgow. The area is known for its spectacular scenery, from lochs to woods to castles – and although property prices are rising, the average home remains pretty affordable at just £92,000.

7. Pendle, Lancashire, England

Pendle and Pendle Hill, Lancashire. Image: iStock

Average house price: £93,000

Average annual wage: £19,000

House price to wage ratio: 5

The town of Pendle is arguably still most famous for being the site of Britain’s biggest witchcraft trial, over 400 years ago. Today, the borough is one of the UK’s most affordable spots, and boasts events including an award-winning Blues Festival and the Pendle Walking Festival over the stunning Yorkshire Dales.

Images: iStock, Getty, Wikipedia Creative Commons

Topics

Share this article

Author

Moya Crockett

Moya is Women’s Editor at stylist.co.uk. As well as writing about inspiring women and feminism, she also covers subjects including careers, politics and psychology. Carrying a bottle of hot sauce on her person at all times is one of the many traits she shares with both Beyoncé and Hillary Clinton.